Cornelius Amann
October 06, 2026
5/5
Iceland: the South Coast, the Glaciers and Snaefellsnes
7 days from Reykjavik: the Golden Circle, the South Coast waterfalls to Vik, a glacier walk at Skaftafell and the boat on Jokulsarlon, then two nights on the Snaefellsnes Peninsula.
7 days · Round trip from Reykjavik · up to 12 guests
Icebergs on Jokulsarlon, with the glacier front under cloud Photo: Jakub Hałun, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:J%C3%B6kuls%C3%A1rl%C3%B3n_glacier_lagoon,_Iceland,_20240719_1057_2501.jpg)
The facts
At a glance
- Length
- 7 days, 6 nights
- Start and end
- Round trip from Reykjavik
- Group size
- 7 to 12 guests
- Longest drive
- 4.5 h on day 2
- Activity level
Moderate
Walks of 1 to 4 km most days on uneven, often wet paths, with some steps. On day 3 you choose a glacier walk of about three hours in crampons on uneven ice, or the 3.5 km walk with a steady climb to Svartifoss. The day 6 lava-field walk is about an hour on a rough path, and the steps at Skogafoss and the Saxholl crater are optional. Driving is about four hours a day at most, except about four and a half on day 2 and four and a quarter on day 4, and you can stay with the minibus at any stop.
- Meals included
- 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches, 2 dinners
- Room of your own
- + CAD 1,050 (estimated price)
- Season
- May to September
Highlights
Why this trip
- Thingvellir at about 8:45, before most day coaches, then Strokkur, Gullfoss, Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss on the way to Vik
- Reynisfjara first thing from Vik, with the black beach and the Reynisdrangar stacks before the coaches arrive from Reykjavik
- A glacier walk in crampons at Skaftafell with a certified local glacier guide, or the walk to Svartifoss: both included
- A night near Hof, so we are on the Jokulsarlon boat half an hour after breakfast, then ice on Diamond Beach
- The Settlement Centre in Borgarnes and a walk into the Berserkjahraun lava field on the way to Snaefellsnes
- Kirkjufell at 8:30 in the morning, two hours before the day tours from Reykjavik
- A full day round Snaefellsnes: Saxholl, Djupalonssandur, Arnarstapi and an hour's walk in the Budahraun lava field
What makes this trip different
Short drives, all published
Every drive is listed day by day. The longest is 4.5 h, on day 2.
Free time is part of the plan
Free time and choices are marked on the days they fall.
Solo without the penalty
A room of your own is + CAD 1,050 (estimated price).
Day by day
Itinerary
The longest drive is 4.5 h, on day 2.
Tap any stop on the map to open that dayClick any stop on the map to open that day
Arrive in Reykjavik
Keflavik International Airport to your hotel in Reykjavik
- Welcome dinner
- Stay in Reykjavik
- Drive about 45 min
Fly into Keflavik International Airport (KEF), about 50 km from Reykjavik across the lava of the Reykjanes Peninsula.
Morning
Most flights from North America land early in the morning, so a private transfer brings you straight into the city, and the hotel keeps your bags until your room is ready; we request early check-in but cannot promise it. Sleep off the flight, find breakfast, or try one of the city's geothermal pools, where locals sit in the hot tubs whatever the weather. At 3 pm your See Sight Tours guide meets the group for an easy two-hour walk: Hallgrimskirkja on its hill, the pond at Tjornin, the Parliament House and the Old Harbour, ending at the glass front of Harpa. Over a short briefing your guide runs through the week, including the choice on day 3 between the glacier walk and the path to Svartifoss, so we can book your place on the ice.
Evening
Then we walk together to a welcome dinner in the centre at about 7 pm.
Included
- Private transfer from Keflavik International Airport (KEF)
- Guided walk in Reykjavik: Hallgrimskirkja, Tjornin, the Parliament House, the Old Harbour and Harpa
- Welcome briefing and welcome dinner
Optional experiences
- Whale watching from the Old Harbour in the morning, about 3 hours (seasonal; price shown at booking)
- Sky Lagoon in Kopavogur after dinner (price shown at booking)
Free time: Free until the 3 pm walk
Activity: If you land after about 2 pm, go straight to the hotel: your guide leaves a note at the front desk with the restaurant address, and you join the group at the welcome dinner at about 7 pm.
The Golden Circle and the waterfalls to Vik
Reykjavik to Thingvellir, Geysir and Gullfoss, then Seljalandsfoss and Skogafoss to Vik
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Vik
- Drive about 4.5 h
Evening
Our longest driving day: about 305 km and four and a half hours at the wheel, over our four-hour cap because a night between Gullfoss and Vik would add another hotel change. Six short legs, lunch and a stretch stop break it up. We leave at 8 am to reach Thingvellir National Park by about 8:45, before most of the day coaches. Iceland's parliament first met here in 930, and the park is on the UNESCO World Heritage list. Walk down the Almannagja rift to the Law Rock and the Oxararfoss waterfall. An hour on, Strokkur erupts every few minutes in the Geysir field, and ten minutes beyond, the Hvita river drops in two steps into the Gullfoss canyon. Lunch is included near Gullfoss. The afternoon runs south through farmland on Route 30 to the Ring Road, with a stretch stop in Hella, then on to Seljalandsfoss, a 60 m fall you can walk behind when the path is free of ice, then Skogafoss, also about 60 m, a single broad curtain you can walk right up to. We reach Vik at about 6 pm for a walk on the black beach. Dinner is yours tonight.
Included
- Thingvellir National Park with your guide: the Almannagja rift, the Law Rock and Oxararfoss
- Geysir geothermal field and Strokkur
- Gullfoss
- Sit-down lunch near Gullfoss
- Stretch stop in Hella
- Seljalandsfoss and the path behind the falls
- Skogafoss
- Walk on the black beach at Vik
Easier option: At Thingvellir, take the view from the Hakid viewpoint and ride down to the lower car park; see Seljalandsfoss from the front, without the wet path behind it.
More active option: Climb the steps beside Skogafoss to the top of the falls and walk a short way up the Skoga river trail, about 45 minutes there and back.
Free time: Evening free in Vik
Activity: About 4 km on foot across the day on good paths, with spray at Seljalandsfoss, so wear waterproofs. Gullfoss to Seljalandsfoss is about 125 km, so we break it at Hella.
Reynisfjara, Eldhraun and a glacier at Skaftafell
Vik to Reynisfjara and Dyrholaey, then east across Eldhraun to Fjadrargljufur and Skaftafell, ending near Hof
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Hof
- Drive about 3 h
We leave Vik at 8 am for Reynisfjara, a few minutes' drive west, and have the black beach, the basalt columns of the Gardar cliff and the Reynisdrangar sea stacks before the coaches from Reykjavik arrive. The waves here are dangerous, so we keep well back from the water. Next, when it is open, is Dyrholaey, the headland with a great sea arch, where puffins nest from about May to August. Then east across the Myrdalssandur plain and the moss-covered lava of Eldhraun, laid down by the Laki eruption of 1783 and 1784, to the twisting Fjadrargljufur canyon when its path is open.
Afternoon
Lunch is included near Skaftafell, in Vatnajokull National Park, and then the group splits for the afternoon. The active choice is a glacier walk of about three hours with a certified local glacier guide, in crampons and a helmet, among ridges, crevasses and meltwater channels on an outlet glacier. The easy choice is the walk to Svartifoss, a waterfall framed by dark basalt columns, with your See Sight Tours guide. Both are included.
Evening
We reach our hotel near Hof by about 6 pm for an included dinner.
Included
- Reynisfjara and Reynisdrangar
- Dyrholaey headland and sea arch, when open
- Eldhraun lava field
- Fjadrargljufur canyon, when the path is open
- Sit-down lunch near Skaftafell
- Skaftafell, Vatnajokull National Park: a glacier walk of about 3 hours with a certified glacier guide, or the walk to Svartifoss with your guide
- Dinner at or near the hotel
Easier option: Walk to Svartifoss with your guide, about 3.5 km there and back with a steady climb, or take the nearly flat path to the snout of Skaftafellsjokull, about 4 km there and back.
More active option: The glacier walk: about 3 hours in all, with crampons, a helmet and an ice axe supplied by the glacier guides. Bring waterproof walking boots with ankle support.
Free time: Evening free near Hof, where the small turf church is worth a short walk
Activity: Tell us your choice for the afternoon when you book, so we can reserve your place on the ice. The glacier guides set a minimum age and may change the route or cancel for weather; if they do, you walk to Svartifoss instead.
Jokulsarlon, Diamond Beach and back west
Hof to Jokulsarlon and Diamond Beach, then Fjallsarlon and west along the South Coast by Kirkjubaejarklaustur and Vik to Hvolsvollur
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Hvolsvollur
- Drive about 4.5 h
Evening
The night near Hof puts us at Jokulsarlon about half an hour after breakfast, ahead of the day tours that drive out from Reykjavik and Vik. Icebergs break from the front of the Breidamerkurjokull glacier and drift slowly across the lagoon towards the sea, and seals often swim among them. Our boat trip on the lagoon is included, about 40 minutes among the ice in season. Across the road, chunks of ice wash up on the black sand of Diamond Beach. Heading back west, we stop at Fjallsarlon, a smaller, quieter lagoon close to its glacier front, then pass Skaftafell below Oraefajokull, the ice-capped volcano that holds Iceland's highest summit. This is our other long driving day, about 315 km and four and a quarter hours, a little over our cap because there is no closer base for the next day's run to Snaefellsnes. The boat comes first, the longest leg is about an hour and three quarters to lunch, a proper stop in the village of Kirkjubaejarklaustur. A stretch stop in Vik breaks up the afternoon, and we reach our hotel in or near Hvolsvollur by about 5:30 pm. The evening is free.
Included
- Boat trip on Jokulsarlon, about 40 minutes (in season)
- Diamond Beach
- Fjallsarlon glacier lagoon
- Sit-down lunch in Kirkjubaejarklaustur
- Stretch stop in Vik
Easier option: Watch the icebergs from the shore path at Jokulsarlon instead of taking the boat, and stay with the minibus at Fjallsarlon.
More active option: Walk the shore path along the lagoon outlet to the sea and back while the boat trips run, about 2 km.
Free time: Evening free near Hvolsvollur
Activity: Short walks on gravel and sand; the boats board from a ramp. Dress warmly for the boat: the air over the ice is cold even in summer.
Borgarnes and on to Snaefellsnes
Hvolsvollur by Selfoss and Reykjavik to Borgarnes, then Gerduberg and the Berserkjahraun lava field to Grundarfjordur
- Breakfast and lunch
- Stay in Grundarfjordur
- Drive about 4 h
We leave at 8:30 am and make the long run west in short pieces: through Selfoss and Hveragerdi, over the Hellisheidi heath with its steaming geothermal power plant, past Reykjavik and under Hvalfjordur by tunnel to Borgarnes, about two and a half hours with a coffee stop.
Afternoon
In Borgarnes the Settlement Centre tells how Iceland was settled and the story of Egil Skallagrimsson, the poet and fighter of Egil's Saga, who grew up here; entry and lunch are included. In the afternoon the road runs north west onto the Snaefellsnes Peninsula, past the long wall of basalt columns at Gerduberg, then over the Vatnaleid pass to the north shore. We stop in the Berserkjahraun lava field, named for two berserkers in Eyrbyggja saga who were set to clearing a path through it, and walk a short part of the way.
Evening
Grundarfjordur, our home for two nights, sits beside Kirkjufell; we arrive at about 4:30 pm, and the evening is free.
Included
- Settlement Centre in Borgarnes, entry included
- Sit-down lunch in Borgarnes
- Gerduberg basalt columns
- Short walk in the Berserkjahraun lava field
Easier option: Stay with the minibus at Gerduberg and Berserkjahraun; both can be seen from the road.
More active option: In the evening, walk from town out to Kirkjufellsfoss and back, about 6 km on the road verge and path.
Free time: Evening free in Grundarfjordur
Activity: About 2 km on foot today; the lava path is rough and uneven, so wear boots.
Round the Snaefellsnes Peninsula
Grundarfjordur to Kirkjufell, Olafsvik and Rif, then Saxholl, Djupalonssandur, Londrangar, Hellnar, Arnarstapi and Budir, and back over the Frodarheidi pass by Olafsvik
- Breakfast, lunch and dinner
- Stay in Grundarfjordur
- Drive about 2.5 h
We are at Kirkjufell by about 8:30 am, when the light is soft and the day tours from Reykjavik are still a couple of hours away: the 463 m peak with the falls of Kirkjufellsfoss in front of it. West along the north shore, past the fishing towns of Olafsvik and Rif, we climb the stairs up the Saxholl crater for a view over the lava to the sea, then follow a path through lava down to Djupalonssandur, a black pebble beach strewn with iron from a British trawler wrecked in 1948 and four old lifting stones once used to test fishermen's strength.
Afternoon
The Londrangar sea stacks come next, then lunch in Hellnar. After lunch, the cliffs and sea arches of Arnarstapi below Snaefellsjokull, the glacier-capped volcano where Jules Verne began his Journey to the Centre of the Earth. At Budir, beside the small black church, we walk into the Budahraun lava field for about an hour among moss and ferns.
Evening
Then we cross the peninsula by the Frodarheidi pass to Olafsvik and run east along the north shore to Grundarfjordur by about 5 pm, with a farewell dinner tonight.
Included
- Kirkjufell and Kirkjufellsfoss
- Olafsvik and Rif
- Saxholl crater
- Djupalonssandur
- Londrangar sea stacks
- Sit-down lunch in Hellnar
- Arnarstapi cliffs and sea arches
- Guided walk in the Budahraun lava field at Budir, about 1 hour
- Snaefellsjokull National Park
- Farewell dinner in Grundarfjordur
Easier option: Skip the Saxholl stairs and the lava-field walk and wait by the black church at Budir; the other viewpoints are close to the car parks.
More active option: After lunch, walk the 2.5 km cliff path from Hellnar to Arnarstapi, about an hour past sea arches and nesting birds, and meet the minibus there.
Free time: Late afternoon free before dinner
Activity: About 5 km on foot across the day. The Djupalonssandur path is rocky and the Budahraun path is rough lava; wear boots.
Back to Reykjavik and home
Grundarfjordur over the Vatnaleid pass to Borgarnes, through the Hvalfjordur tunnel to Reykjavik and Keflavik International Airport
- Breakfast
- Drive about 3 h
Morning
A gentle last morning. After breakfast there is time for a final look at Kirkjufell or a walk by the harbour before we leave at about 9 am. The road crosses the peninsula by the Vatnaleid pass, with a last view back over the lava, and follows the coast to Borgarnes for a coffee stop. Beyond the long bridge over Borgarfjordur, the tunnel under Hvalfjordur saves the drive round the fjord, and we reach Reykjavik at about 11:45 am.
Afternoon
Guests staying on are dropped in the centre, and your guide can suggest where to spend the afternoon: the National Museum, a city pool or the harbour. The rest of us reach Keflavik International Airport by about 12:45 pm, in good time for the afternoon flights to North America and Europe. Your guide stays with the group to the airport and says goodbye there. Lunch today is your own, in Reykjavik or at the airport.
Included
- Coffee stop in Borgarnes
- Drop-off in central Reykjavik or at Keflavik International Airport (KEF)
Activity: Book a flight leaving after about 3 pm. If you stay on in Reykjavik, we can quote extra nights at the start hotel.
- Reykjavik1 night
- Vik1 night
- Hof1 night
- Hvolsvollur1 night
- Grundarfjordur2 nights
- Reykjavikend
- Overnight stop
- Day trip
- By boat or train
Wildlife and weather: From late May to July the nights barely get dark, which suits the two longer driving days. Puffins nest at Dyrholaey from about May to August, when parts of the headland can close to protect the birds, and seals often swim among the icebergs at Jokulsarlon. September is cooler and quieter, with the first autumn colour on Snaefellsnes. The Northern Lights need dark, clear skies, so they are only possible on departures from about late August.
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Before you book
Right for you?
Good for you if you want
- Travellers who want Jokulsarlon and a glacier walk without a nine-day Ring Road
- A first visit to Iceland with both the South Coast and Snaefellsnes
- Travellers who do not want to drive Iceland's roads in wind and rain
- Solo travellers who want a small group and a single supplement shown up front
- Walkers who want an active choice on the big days, and partners who prefer the easy one
Not for you if you want
- Lake Myvatn, the East Fjords or the north: take the Ring Road trip
- Travellers who want two nights in every hotel; this week has four single nights
- Ice caves, multi-day treks or glacier climbing
- A winter Northern Lights trip
Book flights after we confirm your seat.
6 nights
Where you'll stay
Your hotels are named in your trip confirmation.
- Reykjavik1 night
- Vik1 night
- Hof1 night
- Hvolsvollur1 night
- Grundarfjordur2 nights
One price
What's in the price
Included
Accommodation
- 6 nights: 1 in central Reykjavik, 1 in Vik, 1 in or near Hof in Oraefi, 1 in or near Hvolsvollur and 2 in Grundarfjordur
- Hotels of a 3-star-plus standard with private bathrooms; we name each hotel when we confirm your dates
- Rooms shared, or your own for a supplement
Transport
- Private transfer from Keflavik International Airport (KEF) on day 1
- A private minibus and professional driver for the group from day 2 to day 7, ending in central Reykjavik or at KEF
- The boat trip on Jokulsarlon
Your guide
- A See Sight Tours guide with the group from the day 1 walk to the airport on day 7
- Certified local glacier guides for the glacier walk at Skaftafell
Activities
- Guided walk in Reykjavik
- Thingvellir National Park, Geysir and Gullfoss
- Seljalandsfoss, Skogafoss and the beach at Vik
- Reynisfjara, Dyrholaey, Eldhraun and Fjadrargljufur
- Skaftafell glacier walk with crampons, helmet and ice axe, or the walk to Svartifoss
- Jokulsarlon boat trip, Diamond Beach and Fjallsarlon
- Settlement Centre in Borgarnes, entry included
- Gerduberg and the Berserkjahraun lava field
- Snaefellsnes: Kirkjufell, Olafsvik, Rif, Saxholl, Djupalonssandur, Londrangar, Hellnar, Arnarstapi and the Budahraun lava-field walk
- All parking and site fees for included stops
Meals
- 6 breakfasts
- 5 lunches, on days 2 to 6
- 3 dinners: a welcome dinner in Reykjavik, dinner near Hof and a farewell dinner in Grundarfjordur
Not included
- International flights to and from Keflavik
- Travel insurance
- Any visa or travel authorisation fee, such as ETIAS once it applies
- Lunches on days 1 and 7, and dinners on days 2, 4 and 5
- Drinks
- Tips
- Optional activities, such as whale watching and the Sky Lagoon in Reykjavik
- Waterproof walking boots for the glacier walk
- Personal expenses
Extras
- Room of your own
- CAD 1,050 (estimated price)
When you can go
Dates and prices
Pick your start date when you request to book. We check that date and confirm it in your quote.
Prefer to travel without a group or guide? Ask us about arranging hotels, transport and city tours for you to travel independently.
Before you book
Booking terms
Nothing is charged now. Full terms and the cancellation schedule come with your quote, before you accept.
Business addresses
See Sight Tours Trips (USA): 3172 N Rainbow Blvd, Las Vegas, NV 89108, United StatesSee Sight Tours Trips (Canada): 5305 50 Avenue, #1091, Red Deer, AB T4N 4B6, Canada+1-888-961-6584Guest reviews
What guests say
Reviews from guests on our day tours.
Jane
October 06, 2026
5/5
Susan
October 06, 2026
5/5
Tom L
October 05, 2026
5/5
MandL83
October 05, 2026
5/5
Darren O
October 05, 2026
5/5
Good to know
Questions
Prices in these answers apply from Jan 1, 2027. Black Friday offer: 15% off the small-group price for requests received by Dec 1, 2026. From CAD 5,095 per person. Dec 2 to Dec 31: from CAD 5,515. From Jan 1, 2027: from CAD 5,995.
What does the price include?
Six nights in hotels with private bathrooms, 6 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 3 dinners, a private arrival transfer, a minibus and driver, your See Sight Tours guide throughout, the Skaftafell glacier walk or the Svartifoss walk, the Jokulsarlon boat trip, the Settlement Centre, and all parking and site fees for the stops in the day plan.
How big is the group?
The small-group trip runs with 7 to 12 guests in one minibus, so everyone hears the guide at each stop and fits around one table at lunch. Some Iceland group tours in this style take up to 16 guests, and coach tours far more.
Who leads the trip?
A See Sight Tours guide stays with the group from the walk on day 1 to the airport on day 7. A professional driver handles the minibus, and certified local glacier guides lead the walk on the ice at Skaftafell. We name your guide when we confirm your dates.
Do I have to do the glacier walk?
No. On day 3 you choose between the glacier walk, about three hours in crampons with certified glacier guides, and the walk to Svartifoss with your See Sight Tours guide. Both are included in the price. You need waterproof boots with ankle support for the ice, and the glacier guides set a minimum age.
How fit do I need to be?
If you can walk 3 to 4 km on uneven, sometimes wet paths, you will be fine. The glacier walk needs steady footing for about three hours, but it is optional, as are the Skogafoss and Saxholl steps and the Arnarstapi cliff path. You can stay with the minibus at any stop.
How much driving is there?
Most days stay at or under about four hours at the wheel. Day 2, the Golden Circle to Vik, is about four and a half hours and day 4, Jokulsarlon back to Hvolsvollur, about four and a quarter; both are broken by a sit-down lunch, a stretch stop and walks, with no leg much over two hours. The Snaefellsnes day is about two and a half.
I'm travelling solo. What does a room of my own cost?
A room of your own is from CAD 1,050 more than the shared price, shown before you book with no surprise at checkout. Solo travellers are welcome on every departure, and you never have to drive: the driver and guide handle the roads, the weather and the stops.
When is the best time to go?
We run this trip from May to September, when the Jokulsarlon boats run and the long days suit the two longer drives. June to August brings the mildest weather and puffins at Dyrholaey. May and September are quieter at the big sights, and the Northern Lights are possible from about late August.
Should I choose this trip, the Ring Road or the five-day short break?
Choose this one for Jokulsarlon, a glacier walk and two nights on Snaefellsnes in a week. The nine-day Ring Road adds the East Fjords and Lake Myvatn but skips Snaefellsnes. The five-day short break covers the Golden Circle, the South Coast to Vik and a day on Snaefellsnes, without the glaciers.
Do I need a visa for Iceland?
Canadian and US citizens do not need a visa for a short stay in Iceland, which is in the Schengen area. Your passport should be valid for at least three months beyond the day you leave. Europe's ETIAS travel authorisation is due to start for visa-free visitors; we confirm before you fly whether it applies.
How does booking work?
Pick your start date and request to book; no payment is taken at that point. We check hotels, the minibus, the glacier guides and your guide for that date and confirm within 24 hours. The small group starts from CAD 5,995 per person sharing, taxes included, and the private trip from CAD 10,790 per person.
Can we travel privately or on our own dates?
Yes. Besides the small group, the trip comes as a private trip for your party only, on a date you choose, with your own guide and vehicle; it can add a second night in Vik or a last night in Reykjavik. If you would rather travel independently on your own dates, ask us from the dates section and we will quote it.
See Sight Tours has been providing travel services across North America since 2006. Operating in 20 cities across Canada and the USA, the company specializes in small group tours that offer personalized, high-quality experiences for travelers.
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